Rock-drilling machine or engine.



No. 832,791. PATENTBD 00T. 9, 1906i H. HELLMAN & L. c. BANLNS.` ROCK DRILLING MACHINE 0R ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY l2, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED 00T. 9.1906.

H. HELLMAN & L. G. BAYLES.

, ROCK DRILLING MACHINE 0R ENGINE.

.APPLICATION FILED JULYIZ, 1905.

fr f5 11 2 SHEETS-SHBBT 2.

I UNITED STATES PATENT oEEroE.A HENRY H ELLMAN- AND LEwrScoNDicT BAYLES, or-JOHANNESBirne.A`

. TRANSVAAL. -4

nocK-DmLLlNG MACHINEYon ENGINE.

To all'whom/ it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HENRY HELLMAN and LEWIS CoNDicT BArLEs, citizens ofthe Transvaal, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Rock-y Drilling Machines or Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rock or like drilling machines or engines actuated by'4 means of compressed air or other expansive gaseous fluid, and especially to provlding a machine or engine of the type aforesaid with dust prevention or washing means for the drill or bit and for' imparting' intermittent rotation to said drill or bit.

We will at once proceed to describe our inventlon in detail by aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein-1,-

Vin longitudinal elevation. Figf2 represents it in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a translverse section on line :c Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 1/ y, Fi 2. Fi 5 is a transverse section on line z z, Iig. 2.

6 is a transverse section on line x', Fi 2..

Fig. 7 is a trans'verse section on line y y', ig. 2. F1g.,8 1s a transverse section on line z z',

y Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a transverse section on line bifurcation.

:cfg/y', Fi 2. Fi 10 isa transverse section on 'y' z', Iig. 2. Fig. 11 is a lon itudinal section of the' front portion of t e machine, showin a slight modification. Fig. 12l is a view o the cylindrical piece 33, 'which is screwed into the-cylinder-cover 29; and Fi 13 is a -view of the tubular piece 39, whic surrounds said cylindrical piece 33 and constitutes the means whereby the intermittent rotary motion is transmitted to the powercylinder and drill or bit.

In the drawings 1 designates an outer cylindrical protective casm in which the power-cylinder 2 is sliding y and rotatively mounted.

vThe casing 1 is shown carried or supported by means of a sleeve or clamp 3, constructed with a cone 4 for fixing it to an ordinary column-clamp orfother suitable support. The sleeve or band 3 is shown severed or s lit, one of the ends being constructed with a ifurcation or with the two projections 5 6 and the other with a projectlon 7, fitting into said The ends of the part 7 and the two parts 5 6 are turned up m the form of Specification of Letters Patent. l

Application filed July 12, 1905. Serial No. 269,407.

hooks, and between them is inserted a tapered key 8', which when 'driven in one direction Patented oct. 9,1906.

forces the part 7 into the bifurcation formed between the'parts l5 6, and so securely binds the sleeve or band 3- round the rot'ective casing 1. The casing 'l'may be ad1usted lonitudmally'ofthe band or sleeve 3 iti-either irection,l as may be desired, to advance or recede the machine in relation to the rock Kternal diameter as the external diameter of.

j casing 1,. Instead of constructing the end of the casing 1 in the manner shown and de- Figure l illustrates the complete machine scribed it will be evident that' it may be fitted with a cap or bush screwed over or into the rotectincasing l at the forward` end to orm the carin for the power-cylinder 2.

In the' bore o the power-cylinder'v2 at the forward end is located an impact piece or cylinder 9, which serves4 to receive the. imacts of the reciprocating percussive memer 10 and to transmit the same to the inner extremity of the shank 11 of the drill-bit or boring-tool 12. The impactiece 9 is ca able of a limited movement in t e front en of the cylinder 2. In thebore ofthe cylinder 2, in front of the impact-piece 9, is fitted a bush 13, which is formed with a s uare or olygonal bore. (See Fig. 10.) rllhe shanli 11 yoi the drill-bit or boring-tool 12 ismade of corresponding square or poly onal section to t the bush 13, so that the rill or bit is .incapable or rotary motion inside the forward end of the power-cylinder 2.

In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2 for providing a supply of water or other liquid to the cutting extremity of the bill or Ybit 12 an annular groove orrecess 14 is formed round face 0r PODt twhich it is Adesired to operate j L 1 is. Constructed 0 approximately the same infV the power-cylinder 2, so that the power-cylinf l 'i der 1s capaple of sliding freely backward and 5 forward through its bearing in this Jend of the the cylinder -2 at the forward end, a'nd inside i the cylinder 2, round the impact-piece 9, is formed an annular recess 15'., The external annular recess 14 is placed communication with the internalannular recess 15 by means 4of the two l(more or less) ports or holes 16.

In the external annular recess14 in the cylinder 2 1s located a swivel orivewivel-piece 17, which is constructed in halves and'holted ,tplf gether through e1ffo-rated.lugsL18,

fixed round the lower end of the hose-stem 217 by the clamp for conducting 'water (which is placed under pressure) to, the swivel 17 and from the latter to the annular recess 15 in the cylinder 2.

In the impact-piece 9 are formed two (incre or less) angular ports 2'6, .which are inclined in a forward direction and I'neet in 'a' central .hole 27, which opens' at the front of the impact-piece 9. A hole 28 is formed longitudinally of the drill-steel, terminating 'at the center ofthe cutting extremity of the bit 1'2 or in any other suitable 'position at or in close proximity to the end thereof,. from which the water may issue to prevent the 'formati-0n cf' dust by the iepeatedimpacts of the drill er bit l'a-upcn the rock. The annulai recess 15 in the cylinder 2 is made Suinciently long for the ports as in the impactpie'ce 9 to remain in communication with said recess ieshoud the impact-piece 9 be move- 1 forward inthe cylinder 2, owing to 'the bit or drill 1 2 not 'comin int-o contact with the rock.

In the power-cy inder 2, is arranged the'pist'on 10, which constitutes the reciprocating percussive member. at'es t'o control the admission ofthe actuating fluid to imp'el it on its forward and 'percussive and rearward and idle strokes inside the cylinder 2.

To the rear 'end of the power-cylinder 2, insi'd'ethe casing 1,is screwed the cylinder-cover 29. This cover 29 is formed with anexter-p nal annular groove 30, in which are located a packing 31 and beneath the packing 31 a spring 32, which spring keeps .the packing 3l tightly pressed against the internal wall-J of the. protective casing 1. rlhis packing 31 prevents the passage past it of the actuating i uid and'by conlining the actuating fluid to the rear of the cylinder-cover 29 utilizes the expansive force of said iluid to feed 'the drill 12 or to force the power-cylinder 2 forward in the protecting-casing 1 to keep the drilling or boring bit l2 in contact with. the rock or b ottoin of the hole in which it is operating. The cylinder-cover 29 serves as the piston upon which 'the actuating iiuid exerts its pressure to feed the drill.

ln't'o the cylinder-'cover 29 is screwed a cylindrical 4piece 33. (See Figs. 2 and 12.) This piece 33 is cmistrircted with a collar or annu .ar ence `of t e-annular projection 34 are formed a number of curved tapering peripheral grooves 35. (See Figs. ti and lf? l In an annular recess formed het-Ween the front of the.

rig. 13.)

)rejection 34, and in thc circumfer` collar 34 and the rear-cf the cylinder-cover 29 is placed a cylindrical swivel-piece 36, which is Inade of approximately the same internal diarneter as the diameter of the collar 34. Inside the curved tapering grooves 35 in the collar 34 are fitted balls 37 which allow the cylindrical piece 33 to rotate inside theswivelpiece 36 when said balls 37 take up a position in the larger ends of said grooves 35. The cylindrical piece 33 'at its rear end is constructed with a longitudinal slot 38.

Over the rear end of the cylindrical 'piece 33t is arranged a tubular piece 39, which is c'oi'istru'ct'ed with a 'flan e or annular 'enlargement at its forward en' which abutfs the rear end of the collar 34 on the cylindrical piece 33. In the peripher 'of the flange ofthe tubular piece 39 are1 orme'd curved tapering peripheral grooves 40 similar1 to the grooves 35 in the collar34, and in these grooves 40 are located balls 41, whifch serve to prevent thc rotation of said tubularpiece 39 in one direc- 'ti'o'n inside thecylindrical swivel-piece 36,

while 'ermitting it to be rotated in the ree verse direction. In the tubular 'pie'ce-39 'are formed two opposing s iral slots 42. (See In the cyhn rical swivel-piece 36 at the rear'of the flange of the 'tubular 'piece 3 9 is located a rotation washer or' ring 43, which serves asa bearing for the tubular piece 39. S'ai'd rotation-washer 43, being seated in 'a recess insidethe 'cylindrical swivel piece 36, servesfor keeping the tubular 'piece 39 in its correct position insideth'e swivelpiece 36.

In the rear end ot the cylindrical swivelpiece 36. is screwed or otherwise suitably secured a rear 'cylinder 44 made of square or other suitable polygonal external sections. The inner end of this 'c lind'er 44 abuts the rear of the rotation-was ler 43 and so retains it in position in the recess in the cylindrical swivel-piece 36.

On lthe end of the protective 'casing 'l is screwed or otherwise secured thecasing-cap 45, which is constructed with a hole 46, tappcd to receive the throttle-valve of the actuatiinr-fiuidsupply pipe. In this inlet 46 is litt'ed a ring 47, which carri-es a gauze strainer 48,' through which the actuatinf fluid must pass in its passage to the rn'adlnne. This strainer 48 serves for removing any particles loo IIC

of solid matter that may be contained i'n 'or carried by the actuating fluid hef-ore it passes into the interior of the machine.

49 is a port formed in the casing-cap 45, which places the. actuating-huid inlet 46 in communication with the rear 'end ofnthe protecting--casing 1 and at the rear ef the pack inir 31, located around the cylinder-cover 29.

Ilhe casing-cap 45 is shaped internally to (i t 'the rear cylinder 44, and in the end of said cap 45 is located a cup-leather 50, and at t rear of the cup-leather 5() a metal ring 51, over which is screwed a nut or cap 52, which serves to keep the ring 51 and cup-leather 50 in position on the rear. end of the casing-cap 45. By means of the cup-leather a fluidtight sliding joint is made between the exterior ofthe rear cylinder 44 and the interior of the casing-cap 45, thereby preventing any escape of the actuating fluid between the rear cylinder 44 and said cap 45. The polygonal external shape of the cylinder 44 and the corresponding shape of the casing-cap 45 prevents the rotation of the rear cylinder 44.

In the cylinder-cover 29 and communicating with the protecting-casing 1 at the rear of the packing 31 is a port 53, which constitutes the main supply-port to the powercylinder 2. This port 53 communicates with an annular recess 54, formed in the face of the cylinder-cover 29 next the cylinder 2. A port 55, formed longitudinally of the power-cylinder 2, communicates at one end with the annular recess 54 in the cylindercover 29 and at the other end communicates with the power-cylinder 2. This port 55 constitutes a continuation of the main supply-port 53 to said power-cylinder 2.

The power-piston 10 is, as shown, constructed of two different external diameters or formed with a rear portion 56 of larger diameter than the front ortion 57. The piston 10 is bored out axially for the greater portionof its length, this bore 58 opening to the interior of the cylinder 2 at the rear end of the piston 10. A port 59 is formed in the piston 10, communicating with the axial bore 58 at its inner end. In the bore 60 of the power-cylinder 2 (which is formed of two different internal diameters corresponding to the piston 10) and at the forward end is formed an annular recess 61, andl through the cylinder 2 are formedseveral radial ports 62, communicating at their inner' ends with the annular recess 61 and at their outer ends through the ports or grooves 63 with the annular space formed between the protectingcasing 1 and the power-cylinder 2. These grooves 63 are made 'somewhat longer than the length of the bearing afforded 'for the power-cylinder 2 in the front end of the protecting-casing 1, so that when the ports 62 (which constitute the exhaust-ports) are in the center of the bearing in the forward end of the protecting-casing 1 said grooves 63 open to the interior of the casing 1 and also to the exterior beyond said bearing. As the power-cylinder 2 advances in the protectingcasing 1 from such position the grooves 63' close to the interior of the casing 1, but open more fully to the atmosphere until finally the ports 62 are clear of the bearing in the front end of the protective casing 1. Thus an unrestricted exit is always provided for the exhaust.

64 represents exhaust-ports formed at the forward end of the protective casing 1, while 65 represents ports (which serve also as exports 62 64 to the open.

haust-ports) rovided for a special purpose to be hereinafter explained.

The action of the piston 10 and the manner in which it controls the admission of the actuating fluid to the power-cylinder 2 to impel the piston l() on its forward and percussive and rearward and idle strokes may be described as follows: In the which the piston 10 is shown in ig. 2 it is traveling'in a rearward direction and has almost completed its rearward stroke. In this position the actuating iuid is admitted to the front end of the enlarged portion 56 of the pistoni() and acting on thek annular surface 66 is impell'ing it through its rearward stroke. Immediately before the piston 10 reaches the end of its rearward stroke, and

aided by the momentum it acquires in per- 1 forming said rearward stroke, the ports 59 in the piston 10 which communicate with the inner end of the bore 58 run into the larger bore 60 of the power-cylinder 2, whereupon the air or fluid at the initial pressure, passing through said ports 59 to the rear of the piston 10, impels it on its forward and percussive stroke. Simultaneously, 'or approximately simultaneously, with the impact of the forward end of the piston 10 on the impact-piece '9 the ports 59 open into or communicate with the annular recess 61 in the power-cylinder 2, which permits the actuating fluid to pass from the rear end of the piston 10 and to escape through the exhaust- When the rear end of the piston 10 is in communication with exhaust, the air at initial pressure, passing out of the supply-port 55 in front of the head 56 of the piston 10, again impels it on its rearward or return stroke. This cycle of 'operations is repeated for each outward and return stroke of the power-piston 10. In the rear cylinder 44 is located a somewhat similarly constructed and operated piston 67. This rear cylinder 44 is also constructed of two` into it project the cylindrical slotted piece 33 and the tubular slotted piece 39. Secured transversely of the piston '67 is a pin 63, which projects through the curved or spiral. slots 42 inthe tubular piece 39 and also through the longitudinal slot 38 in the cylindrical piece 33.

Longitudinally of the cylindrical swivelpiece 36 and communicating at its forward end with the interior of the protecting-casing 1 is formed a port 69, vand longitudinally of the rear cylinder 44 is formed a port 70, which coincides with the port 69. This ort 70 communicates with the interior of t e rear cylinder 44 at the rear end of the larger bore. -In'the smaller bore of the rear cylinder 44 is prosition in IIO V .power-piston IO-that is to say, the actuatzo Just before the piston 67 reaches' the end of' y 1 o f ing fluid at initial vpressure is free to flow along the ports 69 70 in the cylindrical swivelpiece 36 and rear cylinder 44, respectively, and to enter the larger bore of the rear cylinder 44 at the back of the larger front portion of the piston 67. Assuming the piston 67, as

traveling in a forward direction, then the force of the actuatin fluid Vbeing exertedon the rear end of the en aro'ed part is impelling it on its forward strdlre,

its vstroke in a forward direction the ort 73 in the iston 67 runs into thecylinder 44 and so admits the actuating fluid to the interior of the piston 67, whereuponit is moved through its rearward stroke until Asaid port 7 3- communicates with the recess 71 and places the interior ofthe piston 67 in communication with the exhaust-port 72. The actuating fluid then acting on the 3o annular surface of the enlarged front part of the piston 67 again traverses it through its forward stroke until the port 73 again runs Ainto the enlarged bore of the cylinder 44,

whereupon the above cycle is repeated.

To the outer end of the rear cylinder 44 is attached a handle 74, which serves for retractil-ig the rear cylinder 44 and powercyl inder 2 in the protecting-casing 1.

' said tubular piece 39.

Thev intermittent rotary motion in one direction is transmitted to the power-cylinder 2 and from the latter to the drill or bit 12 by means ofthe piston 67 in the rear cylinder 44.v The mechanism may be arranged so as to impart this intermittent rotary motion to the 'ower-cylinder 2 eitherduring the forward) or rearward movement of said'piston 67. Arranged as shown in the drawings it effects the intermittent rotary motion on the rearward stroke. It is accomplished in the following manner: The pin 68 on the piston 67, as previousl-y eXl lai'ned, engages the two s iral-slots 42 in tfie tubular piece 39 and tlljie longitudinal slot 38 in the cylindrical piece 33. In the rearward movement ofthe p1ston 67 the balls 41 take up sucha position in the curved' peripheral grooves 40 in the flange of the tubular piece as to prevent rotation of The tubular piece 39 is by this means held station-ary inside the 6o piece 36, which, being attached to the rear cylinder 44 and made of polygonal external section, is incapable of rotary motion. When the piston 67 moves through its rearward stroke and the tubular piece 39 is stationary,

the pin 68, engaging the spiral grooves 42, is y the larger ore of I:

. ters the rear-end of the inder cover 29. previously explained, is effected by the actu- `tion and indicatesI to the the balls 37 in the periphery of which take up a position in the larger ends of the peripheral grooves 35 and so permit it torotate. This atter piece 33, being attached to the cylinder cap 29 and through the latter tothe cylinder 2, transmits the rotary motion to the cylinder l2 and through the latter to the drilling or boring bit or tool 12. In the forward movement ofthe piston 67 the balls 41 in the peripheral grooves 4() in the 'tubular piece 39 take up a position in the larger ends of said peripheral grooves 40'and so allow said tubular piece 39 yto rotate'while the piston67mo'ves'in a rectilinear path, guided by the pin 68 in the slot 2 38 in the cylindrical piece 33, and thus no rof tary motion is imparted to the cylinder 2 on i the forward stroke.

In the operation-of themachine the actuating il-uid is admitted through the inlet 46 and after passing through the strainer 48 enprotective casing 1 at the back of the packing 31 in the ower-cyl- The feeding of t e drill, as

ating fluid exerting pressure on the cylindercap 29 and moving i-t forward in the protect- 've casing 1. The actuating fluid .enters the port 53 inthe cylinder-cap 29 and actuates the ower-piston 2 in the manner previously expllined, and the fluid also passes from the rear end of the casing 1 along the ports 69 70 to the rotation-piston67 and actuates the rotative gear, as before described. Thus the feed and rotation of the machine are automatically effected. The water-supply is turned on and shut off asi-required in the working of the machine ,for the purpose of preventing the formation of dust and for washing away the cuttings from the cutting end of the drillor bit l2. When theA powercylinder 2 has advanced sufficiently far in the protectin -casing 1 for the packing 31 'to overrun t e p0rt 65 inthe protective casin then'the actuating fluid by escaping throug said ports 65 puts 'the machine out of operaoperator that it requires to be retracted and the drill or bit replaced by a longer one.

In Fig. l1 we illustrate a slight modification in the arrangement at the forward end of the power-cylinder 2. In this case the IOC IZO

Aimpact-piece 9 as a se arate member is disensed with, and the s ank 11 of the drill or it 12 is shaped to itself project into that part of the bore of the powercylinder 2 in which the piston 10 reciprocates, so that it receives directly upon its inner end the impacts of said piston 10. The bore of the power-cylinder 2 at the forward end is made tapering for some distance and then reduced and made parallel tothe forward end of that part of the bore in which the piston reciprocates. In the tapered hole is fitted a bush 13a, which is made with a parallel bore to fit the part 11 of the drill-shank. 11a is an annular projection formed on the shank 11,

which abuts the bush 13a and front end of the power-cylinder 2 when it is in osition. The inner part l 11b of the shan 11 projects slightly into the bore of the cylinder 2, and the shoulder 11C, formed between the parts 11 11b, abuts the bottom of the tapered hole. The drill-steel 12 is constructed wlth the longitudinal hole 28 and with the two angularly and forwardly inclined holes 26a communieating therewith. The head or forward end of the cylinder 2 is also constructed with the internal annular recess 15 and with the radial ports 16, placing said annular recess 15 in communication with a recess 14, formed round the cylinder 2. In this latter recess 14 is located the swivel 17, formed with the internal annular recess 19 in communication lwith the ports 16, annular recess 15, angular holes 26a, and longitudinal hole 28. 21 represents the stem, 24 the hose-pipe., and 25 the hose-clamp, which serve for conducting water or other liquid to the swivel 17, from which it passes to the longitudinal hole 28 in the drill-steel 12 to the cutting-face thereof.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-- 1.' ln a rock-drilling machine or engine, a rotatable power-cylinder having a side port at its forward end, a drill-steel slidably and non-rotatably held at said forward end of the power-cylindergand having apassage extending longitudinally of said steel and communicating with the side port aforesaid, and a liquid-supply swivel loosely surrounding the forward end of the power-cylinder and having'a port in communication with the side port aforesaid.

2. ln a rock-drilling machine or engine, a

rotatable power-cylinder, having a si e port at its forward end, a drill-steel slidably and non-rotatably held at said forward end ofthe power-cylinder, and having a passage extending longitudinally ofsaid steel, `means carried by the power-cylinder for imparting intermittent rotation thereto, and means for supplying vfluid to the side port in said cylinder during its rotation.

4. In a rock-drilling machine or engine, a rotatable power-cylinder having an annular recess upon the exterior of the cylinder at its forward end and a port through said cylinder at said recess, a drill-steel slidably and nonrotatably held at said forward end of the y power-cylinder and having a passage extending longitudinally of said steel and communicating with the side port aforesaid, and a liquid-supply swivel loosely fitting Within the recess aforesaid and having an. internal annular chamber in communication with the side port aforesaid.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY HELLMAN. LEWIS CONDICT BAYLES. Witnesses CnAs. OVENDALE, R. OVENDALE. 

